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Author Topic:   Re-starting Motor After Long Lay-up

Bowman9491 posted 04-02-2007 09:20 PM ET (US)
I just picked up an old 35 hp motor that was supposedly running when it was put up about two years ago. I read up on the seafoam and wanted to know what people thought about it. I'm sure the carbs are full of gunk but I wanted to know if I should try to clean them up before I even tried to get it running or if I should just hook some gas up and see what happens.
jimh posted 04-02-2007 09:46 PM ET (US)
Remove the spark plugs and inject some fogging oil in the cylinders. Turn the motor over by hand a few times. Connect fuel system to a tank of fresh gasoline. Crank it over and see if it runs.
Buckda posted 04-02-2007 09:53 PM ET (US)
I would also consider running a richer mixture of oil/gas for the first 6 gallon tank.....and let her idle for awhile before revving the motor.
I'd run richer than 50:1 for that first tank, along with a healthy dose of sea-foam, etc.
I'm facing the same thing with a 4-Cylinder Mercury 50 HP in a few weeks when I'm done with my brother's boat restoration. I'm hoping that the motor fires right up. I've already done what JimH suggests above.
Good luck to you.
Dave
tmann45 posted 04-03-2007 07:29 AM ET (US)
I have a 1987 Merc 35 hp that I run the gas out of the carbs after every use. It has set up 2-3 years at a time on several occasions. Starts right up and runs great.
I have a 1998 Merc 200 hp carb that sat 2-3 years couple of times, had to have the carbs cleaned twice so that it would run correctly. Can't run the gas out of the carbs.
Depends on how much varnish the carbs have in them.
Tom
Binkie posted 04-06-2007 08:29 AM ET (US)
Bought a 1966 3-HP Johnson. It had new plug installed when I got it, but it ran poorly, and took about 10 pulls to start it, hot or cold. Sprayed Seafoam in carb while running, then tilted motor up and sprayed a liberal amount through sparkplug hole, turned it over buy hand several times,and let sit overnight. Next day pulled it over several ties with rope to get rid of excess liquid, replaces plug and fired it up, after smoke cleared it ran perfectly. Has a lot more power and starts on a half pull.
Rich
PeteB88 posted 04-09-2007 12:11 AM ET (US)
Cycle trash cousin who has owned more Harleys than most dealerships and is better than the manual always told me to shoot cylinders with Marvel Mystery Oil and anything else that moved liberally (including valve lifters if applicable) and hand crank the motor after letting it sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Crank it over and over again noting anything that seems to be binding up or tight. Do it until smooth. Agree Deepcreep into carbs or whatever else members recommend.

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Author	Topic: Re-starting Motor After Long Lay-up
Bowman9491	posted 04-02-2007 09:20 PM ET (US) I just picked up an old 35 hp motor that was supposedly running when it was put up about two years ago. I read up on the seafoam and wanted to know what people thought about it. I'm sure the carbs are full of gunk but I wanted to know if I should try to clean them up before I even tried to get it running or if I should just hook some gas up and see what happens.
jimh	posted 04-02-2007 09:46 PM ET (US) Remove the spark plugs and inject some fogging oil in the cylinders. Turn the motor over by hand a few times. Connect fuel system to a tank of fresh gasoline. Crank it over and see if it runs.
Buckda	posted 04-02-2007 09:53 PM ET (US) I would also consider running a richer mixture of oil/gas for the first 6 gallon tank.....and let her idle for awhile before revving the motor. I'd run richer than 50:1 for that first tank, along with a healthy dose of sea-foam, etc. I'm facing the same thing with a 4-Cylinder Mercury 50 HP in a few weeks when I'm done with my brother's boat restoration. I'm hoping that the motor fires right up. I've already done what JimH suggests above. Good luck to you. Dave
tmann45	posted 04-03-2007 07:29 AM ET (US) I have a 1987 Merc 35 hp that I run the gas out of the carbs after every use. It has set up 2-3 years at a time on several occasions. Starts right up and runs great. I have a 1998 Merc 200 hp carb that sat 2-3 years couple of times, had to have the carbs cleaned twice so that it would run correctly. Can't run the gas out of the carbs. Depends on how much varnish the carbs have in them. Tom
Binkie	posted 04-06-2007 08:29 AM ET (US) Bought a 1966 3-HP Johnson. It had new plug installed when I got it, but it ran poorly, and took about 10 pulls to start it, hot or cold. Sprayed Seafoam in carb while running, then tilted motor up and sprayed a liberal amount through sparkplug hole, turned it over buy hand several times,and let sit overnight. Next day pulled it over several ties with rope to get rid of excess liquid, replaces plug and fired it up, after smoke cleared it ran perfectly. Has a lot more power and starts on a half pull. Rich
PeteB88	posted 04-09-2007 12:11 AM ET (US) Cycle trash cousin who has owned more Harleys than most dealerships and is better than the manual always told me to shoot cylinders with Marvel Mystery Oil and anything else that moved liberally (including valve lifters if applicable) and hand crank the motor after letting it sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Crank it over and over again noting anything that seems to be binding up or tight. Do it until smooth. Agree Deepcreep into carbs or whatever else members recommend.